The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-08-03

few miles are so accustomed to tho
thing that they never mind it Or men,
ton it. Consequently, very few people
outside of the Immediate vicinity, and
the physicians who have attended them,
are cognizsnt of the circumstances.
People passing the house, especially in
the summer time, have been filed with
curiosity by what they saw and heard,
and have carried accounts to distant
places. These reports are very vague,
for the passers-by have had no definite
idea Of the matter. They only know
that it looked remarkably strange to see
father and his sons out in the field
plowing and sowing many rods apart,
yet each one laughing as though lie had
heard the best joke in the world. Curl
Gus stories are told of the travellers WHO
went that way. Several years ago two
young men came from the interior of
the State to attend party at Easton,
Pennsylvania.
It was warm night and they did not
start until late. They drove past the
house Of the laughing family soon after
the regular nightly attack had begun.
The windows were all open, as it was
early summer, and every sound could be
clearly heard. Is the young men ap-
preached they heard the most unearthly
noise their ears had ever received. 1t
seemed like pandemonium, and the
youths felt sure they had struck the en-
trance to Sheol.
The horse took fright and nearly ran
away with them. Coming to the con-
clusion that at least the place was haunt
ed, they hurried home, and the Iext
morning spread the news. Parties were
formed to investigate the matter, but
none OF them solved the subject until
informed by man in the village near
at hand as to the nature Of the case.
They were urged to remain reticent
about the matter, and have done so.
PHYSICAL E-FECTs.
The years OF incessant laughter have
told somewhat on the faces Of the fami
ly, but not SO as to be very noticeable.
There are scores Of lines under the eyes
and above the cheeks, caused by the
drawing up of the skin. Then their
mouths have become wider and they
keep them closed with difficulty. The
most marked result Of the disease, how
ever, is in the voice. The entire family
talk in the same tone, resembling as
nearly as anything the voice Of the alto
singer. Males and females have The
same infection and iatonation. Most OF
them have more OF less trouble with
their eyes, several having become very
near sighted. The pupils have Con-
tractcd, and the entire eyeball is din-;I-
ished in size. This is accounted for by
the contraction Of the eyes while laugh
ing, and the effort required II working
Or reading while undergoing an attack.
Very little physical annoyance is caused
the laughers. They read and write,
sleep and work without any trouble.
The only thing they seem unable 10 do,
while attacked, is to eat, and that can be
readily understood. Se..ers: grand
children have been born, and il all but
one instance, they were taken, soon after
birth, with stated attacks at the same
hours as their parents. Oh course they
do not laugh as the older ones do, but
they crow and express al the signs OF
baby glee twice g day, and never cry
while in that state. Il the disease con-
tinue in the new generation, the laugh
ing family may ultimately become a
laughing village.